GRAND RAIL EXPERIENCE

Day 1. Arrive Auckland, Freedom of Choice Touring.
Today, we give you the opportunity to choose from a wide range of activities and we will include it! Freedom of Choice Touring™. Enjoy amazing views from the top of the Sky Tower, take a guided Auckland City sights tour, visit the Auckland Museum or experience Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World.
Auckland, Sky City Hotel.

Day 2. Rotorua.
This morning journey by coach alongside the Waikato River and pass by Taupiri Mountain, the sacred burial ground of the Maori. Continue through Ngaruawahia, the official residence of the Maori Queen before disembarking at Hamilton. We visit Waitomo Caves and discover stunning underground scenery as we are guided into an ancient labyrinth of limestone cavens before continuing to Rotorua.
Two Night Stay: Rotorua, Park Heritage Hotel.
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Day 3. Rotorua, Freedom of Choice Touring.
Today, we give you the opportunity to choose from a wide range of activities and we will include it! Country Homestay option available tonight. Freedom of Choice Touring™. Visit the Agrodome, Te Puia Thermal Reserve, Rainbow Springs, enjoy the Rotorua Museum and Polynesian Spa or experience a geothermal wonderland.
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Day 4. Tongariro National Park.
Tour by coach through the heart of the North Island. Disembark at the ski village of Ohakune.
National Park, Chateau Tongariro.
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Day 5. Tranzmetro Train, Wellington.
This morning we head south to Featherston. Travel through Taihape, renowned as the 'Gumboot Capital' of New Zealand. Every year a festival is held here to celebrate this essential item of rural 'kiwi' footwear. Continue through the Manawatu Gorge and the Wairarapa region to Featherston. On arrival into Featherston, we visit the Fell Engine Museum before we board the TranzMetro Train for our short journey to Wellington.
Two Night Stay: Wellington, James Cook Grand Chancellor Hotel.
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Day 6. Wellington.
Today we take a short stroll to the Wellington Cable Car whose service from Lambton Quay to Kelburn began in 1902. Ascend to the top and perhaps visit the Cable Car Museum or take a tranquil walk around the Botanic Gardens. Rejoin your coach and journey to Mt Victoria for the best view of the city, harbour and surrounding regions. View Parliament buildings and opposite the 'Beehive' the 1876 Government Buildings are the largest all wooden buildings in the world. Continue onto Te Papa the 'National Museum of New Zealand' where our morning sightseeing tour concludes. The remainder of today is at your leisure to further explore.
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Day 7. The Tranzcoastal, Christchurch.
A morning cruise across Cook Strait and through the picturesque Marlborough Sounds to Picton. Join the TranzCoastal Train for a scenic trip along the east coast. Journey between mountain and sea as we travel along a thin ledge of land pinned between the Pacific Ocean and the rugged Kaikoura Ranges. Continue to Christchurch.
Christchurch, Grand Chancellor Hotel.
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Day 8. The TranzAlpine, Franz Josef.
This morning board the award winning TranzAlpine Train, voted one of the top rail journeys in the world. Travel through spectacular gorges, river valleys and across the country's greatest mountain range, the mighty Southern Alps. Disembark at Greymouth and continue to Hokitika. We continue south along the West Coast, travelling through dense rain forest to Franz Josef.
Franz Josef, Franz Josef Glacier Hotel.
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Day 9. Franz Josef, Queenstown, Freedom of Choice Dining.
See spectacular mountain ranges, untouched native forests, lakes and glaciers. Journey along the shores of beautiful Lakes Wanaka and Hawea to the delightful village of Arrowtown. Continue to the year-round, 'Alpine Resort' of Queenstown. In the evening, choose your dining experience with a Dine around dinner.
Two Night Stay: Queenstown, Copthorne Lakefront Resort.
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Day 10. Queenstown, Freedom of Choice Touring.
Today, we give you the opportunity to choose from a wide range of activities and we will include it! Freedom of Choice Touring™. Enjoy a garden tour, take a guided tour of local wineries, enjoy an exhilarating jet boat ride, take a fun double-decker bus tour or experience a 4WD ‘Lord of the Rings’ Safari.
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Day 11. Kingston Flyer, Milford Sound Cruise.
Enjoy a trip back in time aboard the Kingston Flyer, New Zealand's famous vintage steam train. Rejoin our coach and journey along the Milford Road, renowned as one of the world's finest alpine drives. We board our Red Boat cruise and journey the full length of this beautiful fiord. This afternoon we have a relaxing drive to the tranquil settlement of Te Anau.
Te Anau, Luxmore Resort Hotel.
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Day 12. Dunedin, Freedom of Choice Touring.
Today, travel across the Southland countryside to Dunedin. On arrival, choose from a wide range of activities and we will include it! Freedom of Choice Touring™. Tour historic Olveston House, discover Otago Peninsula wildlife or visit Speight's Brewery.
Dunedin, Dunedin City Hotel.
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Day 13. Dunedin, Twizel.
This morning we board the Seasider Train at Dunedin's railway station, journey north along the east coast. View the spectacular Eastern Coastline before disembarking at Palmerston. At Oamaru view the towns beautiful preserved Victorian stone buildings, which were created with local cream coloured limestone. We turn inland and travel towards the High Country. During our journey we pass wide expanses of tussock grasslands, High Country sheep stations, massive hydro-electric dams and beautiful glacier-fed lakes.
Twizel, MacKenzie Country Inn.
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Day 14. Twizel, Mt Cook, Christchurch.
Today we journey into Mt Cook National Park a World Heritage-listed area and home to New Zealand's highest mountain. You may wish to take a scenic flight over this awe-inspiring alpine region (own expense, weather permitting). Visit picturesque Lake Tekapo and view the tiny Church of the Good Shepherd. See the statue of the working collie dog, erected in honour of the dog whose help was invaluable to the early settlers of this region. Leaving the High Country behind we travel through Burkes Pass and descend to the vast Canterbury Plains. Cross the braided Rakaia River and continue onto Christchurch, the 'Garden City'.
Christchurch, Grand Chancellor Hotel.
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Day 15. Freedom of Choice Touring, Depart Christchurch.
Choose from our range of activities before transferring to the airport for in the afternoon. Freedom of Choice Touring™. Visit the Antarctic Centre, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, ride the Gondola or go punting on the Avon River.
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